Struggling w/ Self-Acceptance?
Here are 5 ways you can begin to shift your relationship w yourself for radical self acceptance + 10 min guided meditation on self compassion *
Hi friend!
Do you find that you struggle to accept yourself for who you are?
If so, you're not alone.
Many people find it difficult to fully embrace themselves and their flaws which in turn creates a barrier from being able to experience a true sense of fulfillment in life.
But why? Why do so many of us struggle to accept ourselves?
There are many reasons. One in particular that I discovered is due to social conditioning—We are often told what is acceptable and what is not, and so then when we don't meet these ‘expectations’, we may begin to feel like we're not good enough.
What’s important here though is to recognize that these expectations are often unrealistic and can prevent us from fully being able to accept who we are.
So, where does one start with self-acceptance?
Here are some practical tips to help you get started:
1. Practice Self-Compassion:
The Latin root of compassion is “compati,” which means “to suffer with.” When we practice self compassion, we quite literally give ourselves permission to be with our suffering or pain, without judgment or criticism, just as we would be there for a friend who’s going through something. So practicing self compassion is very much like treating yourself with kindness and understanding in the same way you would to a friend or loved one.
2. Focus on Your Strengths:
So many of us have a tendency or habit of being extremely harsh on ourselves. Never giving ourselves credit that’s due and overly focused on all the ways we aren’t “good enough.” And this behavior towards self only hinders our ability to accept who we are. What we can do instead is to notice when we’re being negative or critical of ourselves, and then once we become aware, we can choose a different approach. One approach can be to make a mental (or literal) list of your strengths and accomplishments. What did go well? What were the small wins of the day? How can you celebrate or honor your little successes and remind yourself just how capable you are to get things done?
3. Embrace Your Imperfections:
Recognize that everyone has imperfections….it’s a natural part of the human experience. Nobody is perfect— everyone has strengths and weaknesses. And so instead of bashing yourself for who you are or what you’ve done that maybe you weren’t proud of, you can instead see yourself as the imperfective human that you are while offering yourself some grace & compassion, reminding yourself here too that it’s okay. You’re learning and you’re growing.
4. Surround Yourself with Positive People:
Sometimes we can be our own worst critic, & it can challenging to see things objectively. When you spend time with positive people, they can help to uplift you, encourage you to be your best self, & offer you different perspective when you can’t see something clearly. When we surround ourselves with people who believe in us and our abilities, it can be easier to feel confident and capable of practicing self-acceptance.
5. Practice Mindfulness:
Take time to simply be present with & aware of your thoughts and feelings, without judging, without critiquing, without trying to change what’s happening or make it different. Practice this non judgmental approach of witnessing yourself as you are. This practice solely in itself can be the very practice that helps you better understand and thus accept the imperfectly perfect human being that you are.
Remember, self-acceptance is a journey, not some destination you arrive at. It takes time & space & effort & patience to fully embrace who you are. But with these simple steps, I hope that it can be enough for you so that you can start on the path to self-acceptance and live a happier and more fulfilling life, as you deserve.
Blessings & Namaste 🙏🏽
Below is a short guided meditation I recorded on self compassion. If you’re ready & would like to practice along with me, listen here to this 10 min meditation 🧘🏽♂️